Window display container



E. L. ARNESON WINDOW DISPLAY CONTAINER Filed April 26, 1966 2 A ril 23,1968 fm/erzizfr: 152mm Z. @f7265072,

24 ml? Q Patented Apr. 23, 1968 3,379,359 WINDOW DISPLAY CONTAINER EdwinL. Arneson, Hackensack, N.J., assignor to Federal Paper Board Company,Inc., Bogota, N.J., a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 26, 1966, Ser.No. 545,315 Claims. (Cl. 229-16) This invention relates to packaging andis more particularly concerned with improvements in a container which isfabricated from a foldable blank of paperboard or similar material andwhich has a window opening through which a portion of the contents maybe viewed.

Containers have been produced heretofore from paperboard and similarfoldable sheet material which are provided with a window opening in oneor more of the wall panels, the opening being covered generally by atransparent sheet, or by an overwrap of similar material. Various formsof these window containers such as, for example, rectangular shapedcartons with seal-end, lock-end or tucked end panels or tray-receivingsleeve types, have been produced for a long period with the windowopening cut out of an interior portion of one or more of the wall panelsso as to leave integral wall portions surrounding all sides of theopening. This has resulted in a substantial amount of undesirable wastesince the portion of the blank which is cut to form the window openingis discarded. A principal object therefore of the present invention isto provide a window-type container wherein the blank for the same is cutin a novel manner so as to eliminate the waste resulting from cuttingout the window opening in the manner normally followed heretofore.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide a window-typecontainer and a method of fabricating the same wherein a blank isprepared for forming the container with the window opening extendingfrom an edge of the blank inwardly into a wall forming panel and with aconnecting panel provided on the edge of the blank opposite theretowhich serves to close the open side of the window opening when thecontainer is set up.

It is another object of the invention to provide a window type containerwhich is fabricated from a single blank of paperboard material cut andscored to provide a plurality of connected wall forming panels with awindow opening cut in one end of the blank and extending from the freeedge of the blank inwardly into the end wall panel and with a glue flapprovided at the opposite end of the blank which is hinged to a wallforming panel and which is adapted to overlie and extend along the edgemargin of the window bearing panel so as to close the open side of thewindow opening when the container is set up.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a blank forfabricating a container wherein a window opening is cut in the wallpanel at the one end of the blank, which opening extends to the end edgeof the blank and has a dimension transversely of the blank which ispreferably equal to one-half the tranverse dimension of the blankwhereby a plurality of the blanks may be cut from a larger sheet withthe blanks disposed so that the ends thereof in which the windowopenings are out are in alternate matched or nested relation whereby theportion of the sheet which is cut to provide the window opening in eachblank forms portions of the blanks which extend along opposite sides ofthe window openings of two opopsitely disposed blanks.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom a consideration of the container and the method of fabricating thesame which is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawmgs:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one form of carton in set up conditionwhich embodies the principal features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross section, to an enlarged scale, taken on the line 2-2of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the blank employed in fabricating the cartonof FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a view illustrating the manner in which a plurality of theblanks are cut from a web.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated in set upand closed condition a carton 10 which incorporates the principalfeatures of the invention. The carton 10 is adapted to be fabricatedfrom a generally rectangular paperboard blank 11 (FIGURE 3) which is cutand scored as shown. The carton 10 is of a size and shape suitable forpackaging products such as pies, rolls and similar bakery goods or otherproducts where it is desirable to view a portion of the contents of thecarton without opening the carton.

The blank 11 is symmetrical about its longitudinal axis a-a and isdivided by laterally spaced, longitudinally extending score or creaselines 12 and 13 into a center panel forming section 14 and tworelatively narrow side wall forming sections 15 and 15. The centersection 14 is divided by longitudinally spaced parallel transverse scorelines 17, 18, 19 and 29 into a top wall forming panel 21, a side or endwall forming panel 22, a bottom wall forming panel 23, a side or endwall panel 24 and a glue flap 25 hingedly connected, in the order named,on the score lines. The two side sections 15 and 15 of the blank 11 arecut in an identical manner to provide side or end wall panels 26, 26 and27, 27' extending on opposite sides of the top and bottom wall panels 21and 23 and corner connecting flaps 28, 28' and 29, 29' extending atopposite sides or ends of the panels 22 and 24. The latter panels 22 and24, for convenience in description, may be considered the back and frontwall panels respectively. The top wall forming panel 21 has a windowopening 30 cut therein which extends from the free end edge 31 of theblank 11 a predetermined distance into the panel 21. Preferably, thewindow opening 30 has a dimension transversely of the axis of the blank11 which is approximately equal to the combined width of the remainingside portions of the blank which extend in the direction longitudinallyof the blank along the sides of the opening 30. The dimension of theopening 30 in the longitudinal direction of the blank may be less thanthe corresponding dimension of the panel 21, as shown, or it may begreater so as to extend into the back wall 22 if desired. The blank inthe form shown in FIGURE 3 is provided with a sheet 32 of a transparentplastic film of sufiicient size to cover the opening 30 with its marginssecured by an adhesive or other fastening means to the panel portionssurrounding the three sides of the opening 30. Alternatively, when thecarton is designed to be covered by a transparent overwrap the sheet 32may be omitted.

In setting up the carton 10 as shown, the blank 11 is folded on thetransverse score or crease lines 17, 18, 19 and 20 and the glue flap 25is adhesively secured in overlying relation along the margin of the topwall panel 21 so as to form a closure for the front side of the windowopening 30. If the carton is to be overwrapped, it may be desirable totuck the fiap 25 beneath the margin of the panel 21. In eitherarrangement the flap 25 serves a dual function, when secured to the toppanel 21. It connects the top panel 21 with the front panel 24 and alsocompletes the frame around the window opening 30 so as to enhance theappearaance of the carton. The tube which is initially formed from theblank 11 may be filled with a product prior to closing the open ends orone end may be closed by folding the side wall panels and theirassociated corner connecting flaps 26, 27, 28, 29 or 26, 27, 28, 29' andsecuring the same with an adhesive or in any suitable manner after whichthe product may be inserted and the wall forming panels at the oppositeend folded and secured in closed position in a similar manner. In oneform of the carton the securing means may be omitted between the cornerconnecting tabs 29 and 29' and the associated side wall panels so thatthe glue flap 25 may be torn loose and the front wall 24 of the cartonfolded down to provide access to the interior of the carton.

The blanks 11 may be nested or matched when a plurality are cut from aweb or larger sheet of the proper dimensions in the manner shown inFIGURE 4. The blanks 11 are arranged on the web 40 in double rowalignment with the ends having the window openings in one row facing thecorresponding ends of the blanks in the other row so that with properspacing longitudinally of the web the window ends may be nested asshown. The transverse dimension of the window opening 30 in the form ofthe blank illustrated is made equal to one half the width of the blanksso that the portion of each blank cut out to provide the opening 30forms a side or frame portion of the end panel of each of the two blanksin the opposite row and there is no waste of the stock material 40while, at the same time, window openings 30 of uniform size are providedin each of the alternately spaced blanks.

The invention is not limited to the fabrication of the specific form ofcontainer illustrated. It may be employed to advantage in othercontainer forms such as tubes with various end closures or open endedsleeves for telescoping or sliding trays.

While particular materials and specific details of construction arereferred to in describing the form of container illustrated it will beunderstood that other suitable materials and equivalent structuraldetails may be resorted to within the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A generally rectangular blank of foldable sheet material which is cutand scored for fabricating a rectangular container having a windowopening in a wall thereof, said blank comprisng top and bottom wall anda pair of end wall forming panels connected along spaced, parallel,hinge forming score lines, one of said panels terminating at a cut edgeof the blank, and a rectangular window opening cut in said blank so thatone side thereof co-incides with said out edge, said opening extendinginwardly of said cut edge in the direction of the opposite edge of saidone panel, and a relatively narrow connecting panel hinged to the freeedge of the wall panel at the oppositely disposed edge of said blankwhich is adapted to be secured to the margin of said one panel in whichsaid opening is cut when the container is set up whereby to form aclosure for the side of said window which extends along said out edge.

2. A blank as recited in claim 1, and said connecting panel having adimension which is substantially less 4. than the correspondingdimension of said window opening in the direction inwardly of said cutedge.

3. A blank as recited in claim 1, and said window opening beingrectangular and having a dimension in: the direction parallel with saidout edge which is approximately equal to one-half the correspondingdimension of the blank.

4. A method of forming from a large sheet or web of material a pluralityof rectangular container blanks each having a series of connected wallpanels with a window opening extending from an edge of the blank into atleast one of the wall panels thereof which comprises arranging theblanks for cutting in side-by-side row forming relation and in pairedrows with the blanks in one row extending in a direction opposite theblanks in the associated row and the window openings extending from theinner edges toward the opposite edges in each row thereof, the blanks inone row being offset relative to the blanks in the associated row andthe marginal portions along said cut edges being disposed so that theyare nested with the portions cut out to provide each window openingforming side portions extending along the sides of the window openingsin the two blanks which are disposed opposite each said blank in theadjoining row whereby the window openings may be formed in the blankswithout waste of the sheetor web material.

5. A method of forming a plurality of container blanks from a largesheet or web each having a series of connected wall panels with a windowopening extending from an edge of the blank into one of the wall panelsthereof which comprises cutting from the large sheet or web a pluralityof the blanks with the blanks arranged in side-by-side row formingrelation and in paired rows the window openings extending fromoppositely disposed inner edges toward the opposite outer edges in eachrow thereof, the blanks in one row being disposed in offset relationrelative to the blanks in the opposite row, said openings each having adimension transversely of the blank which is one-half the correspondingdimension of the blank, the blanks being arranged with marginal portionsalong said cut edges disposed so that they are nested and the portionscut to provide each window opening constituting side portions extendingalong the sides of the window openings in the two adjoining blanks whichare opposite said blank in the adjoining row, whereby there is no wasteof material in cutting the nested marginal portions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 436,142 9/1890 Lohmann 229-382,200,818 5/1940 Bergstein 229--l4 2,824,684 2/1958 Ahlers 229 442,973,086 2/ 1961 Thompson 20645.3l

FOREIGN PATENTS 252,967 6/ 1926 Great Britain.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM T. DIXSON, Examiner.

1. A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR BLANK OF FOLDABLE SHEET MATERIAL WHICH IS CUTAND SCORED FOR FABRICATING A RECTANGULAR CONTAINER HAVING A WINDOWOPENING IN A WALL THEREOF, SAID BLANK COMPRISING TOP AND BOTTOM WALL ANDA PAIR OF END WALL FORMING PANELS CONNECTED ALONG SPACED, PARALLEL,HINGE FORMING SCORE LINES, ONE OF SAID PANELS TERMINATING AT A CUT EDGEOF THE BLANK, AND A RECTANGULAR WINDOW OPENING CUT IN SAID BLANK SO THATONE SIDE THEREOF COINCIDES WITH SAID CUT EDGE, SAID OPENING EXTENDINGINWARDLY OF SAID CUT EDGE IN THE DIRECTION OF THE OPPOSITE EDGE OF SAIDONE PANEL, AND A RELATIVELY NARROW CONNECTING PANEL HINGED TO THE FREEEDGE OF THE WALL PANEL AT THE OPPOSITELY DISPOSED EDGE OF SAID BLANKWHICH IS ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO THE MARGIN OF SAID ONE PANEL IN WHICHSAID OPENING IS CUT WHEN THE CONTAINER IS SET UP WHEREBY TO FORM ACLOSURE FOR THE SIDE OF SAID WINDOW WHICH EXTENDS ALONG SAID CUT EDGE.